LEE CLARK is beginning to wonder what might have been after his Birmingham City side delivered a third successive win – and denied Crystal Palace the chance to climb into the top two.

Clark’s side – inspired by youngsters Ravel Morrison and Nathan Redmond – crushed Palace with two goals in each half. Redmond and an own-goal from Damien Delaney put them in control before Morrison and Shane Ferguson completed a performance that drew a line under any lingering relegation fears and left them eight points off the play-off zone.

With many of the clubs around them due to play today, Clark expects that situation to change quickly.

But he said: “We have been a completely different side since Christmas. It makes you think what might have happened if we had started this run earlier. The club who finished sixth last season got 75 points, but I don’t think it will be that many this year.”

Redmond and Morrison proved too hot for Palace, with Morrison delivering the perfect response after his manager challenged him to deliver on his undoubted talent.

Clark added: “He is a very talented young man, although my voice is wrecked by shouting at him for 93 minutes. He is like a kid in the park who loves playing football.”

Lee Clark was impressed with his sides' performance

We have been a completely different side since Christmas. It makes you think what might have happened if we had started this run earlier.

Lee Clark

Birmingham’s upbeat mood was in stark contrast to the atmosphere around Selhurst Park, as Palace made it three games without a win. The 3-0 defeat at fierce rivals Brighton was painful enough last time out – but this was a massive blow to their morale ahead of the final run-in.

Palace lie fourth and manager Ian Holloway said: “Losing at Brighton seems to have dented everyone. We have seven games left but if we play like that it will be tough. We have to get back and we have to believe.”

Palace wilted from the moment Redmond drifted past two defenders before finishing left-footed in the 24th minute. Then Birmingham made it two when Delaney, under pressure from Nikola Zigic, headed into his own goal following a corner.

Palace stepped things up after the interval but hopes of a revival were brought to an abrupt halt when Morrison scored in the 64th minute with a well-taken, first-time finish. And the visitors completed a comprehensive win when Ferguson curled a superb free-kick beyond Julian Speroni.